Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Let's Make a New Potion!
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The trembling from the effects of Potency Amplification (A+) was only momentary.
"...If I use it right, it might actually be pretty useful...?"
Thinking back, hadn't I once created a high-grade potion that could be consumed risk-free? Feeling the potential in that realization,
I decided to take advantage of my new skill and finally craft some potions I'd been too busy to make until now.
Oh, and just so you know, I had plenty of money to buy any missing materials.
The account tied to my new identity, courtesy of the Professor, had over a billion won in it.
And if that wasn't enough, I could always use the black card he'd given me—no spending limit!
"Professor. I'll repay you with some great potions, so please allow me to become a righteous thief... no, a righteous alchemist again today!"
And so, the first recipe I made with the Professor's money
was the ability enhancement potion I'd only ever dreamed up in my head.
Synthesis (EX)
[Searching for the recipe of 'Ability Enhancement Potion'....]
[Checked 1,102,235 related recipes....]
[Optimizing recipe based on current dimension....]
[...Complete.]
[Generated a total of 1 recipe for 'Ability Enhancement Potion.']
[Outputting recipe automatically.]
Ability Enhancement Potion
[Required Materials]
- Monster Magic Stone
- Mana-Infused Plant
- Mana-Rich Soil
- Mana-Rich Water
[Required Tools]
- Emerald Cauldron
- Pure Flame
※ Effects may vary based on material quality.
"?"
Effects vary by material quality?
This was the first recipe I'd seen with a note like that. Pondering why,
it hit me: this wasn't a recipe for boosting specific stats.
It was a general-purpose one that could boost any stat.
In other words...
"I searched too sloppily."
Since I'd done a rough experimental search, the result was a vague catch-all. There was a reason over a million related recipes had popped up.
But that thought didn't last long.
"...Actually, this might work out even better?"
It wasn't what I'd aimed for, but high versatility meant I could throw in whatever materials I had and make something.
So, I tried synthesizing a potion with the materials I had on hand.
"Out of the registered materials, something decent... Ah, how about that goblin one?"
[Using 'Magic Stone of Arena Tyrant -Karok-' as material.]
[Using 'Mana-Infused Moss' as material.]
[Using 'Spirit Water Made by Arin' as material.]
[Using 'Soil Infused with Lulu's Mana' as material.]
[Recipe allows 'Potency Amplification.']
[※Warning: Amplification applies penalties and may alter the result.]
[Use skill?]
[YES][NO]
Bubble bubble bubble-!
[Synthesized 'Amplified Ability Enhancement Potion'!]
Amplified Ability Enhancement Potion (Physical) [A-]
A potion made by a master alchemist using incredible tools and ordinary materials.
[Amplification Effect 1]: Slightly increases physical stats (Strength, Agility, Stamina) upon consumption.
[Amplification Effect 2]: Acquire one trait from 'Arena Tyrant -Karok-'.
[Amplification Penalty]: Inflicts status ailment (stomachache) upon consumption.
"So that's how it works, huh?"
It slightly boosted physical stats and let me acquire a trait, so this potion was definitely a jackpot among jackpots.
The only issue was the penalty: status ailment [Stomachache]. A bit worrying, but I could just make and take some stomach medicine for it.
"Worst case, I can tough it out with my body."
If push came to shove, my Marrow Cleansing (S) had rebuilt even my stomach, so it should hold up. I'd just have to trust that and drink it.
Anyway.
Whether this was because it used materials from a hidden floor named monster like Karok, or if it was average, I didn't know yet.
This time, I decided to use expensive materials bought at auction instead of what I had.
"Alright, then... Since I'm making it anyway, let's make one to gift the Professor."
It was about time I started repaying his kindness.
I'd been doing my best to cook for him since he was so perceptive,
but no matter how delicious my food was, it couldn't compare to everything he'd done for me.
"Repay kindness double!"
With that, I scoured the gallery for materials that looked mage-friendly.
TOP 3 Materials That Make Mages Lose Their Minds and Charge In
[Will Become a Magic Master☑]
1. Intact core of a named golem
2. Top-quality mandragora
3. Magic equipment made of solid mithril
Undeniable TOP 3 only. Everything I said is spot on—if you're mad, comment below.
I'll debunk you all in the arena lol
I think an intact heart from any named wyrmling is TOP 3 material too. Dragons aren't rulers of magic for nothing. Arena?
This lowly magic scrub bows its head in submission.
Everything you say is correct, and I am a frog in a well.
I'll delete the post, please spare me...
No need to delete lol
(This time only. con)
(Sniffling snot-nosed scrub mage con)
"Aah... You again, Doctor...?"
After that, I groveled with 'Damn it, the Professor again. I must worship him...',
and bought materials that made me yelp, my hands shaking as I did.
[Large Magic Stone Fragment of Basilisk] - 750,000,000 won
[Immature Mandragora] - 200,000,000 won
"These are too expen...sive? Nah. It's the Professor's money anyway? Just buy 'em."
With that, I blew through nearly the full billion to buy the wyrmling (basilisk) and mandragora (immature) materials, registered them,
and the resulting potion shattered all previous price records...
[Using 'Large Magic Stone Fragment of Basilisk' as material.]
[Using 'Immature Mandragora' as material.]
[Using 'Spirit Water Made by Arin' as material.]
[Using 'Soil Infused with Lulu's Mana' as material.]
[Recipe allows 'Potency Amplification.']
[※Warning: Amplification applies penalties and may alter the result.]
[Use skill?]
[YES][NO]
Bubble bubble bubble-!
[Synthesized 'Amplified Ability Enhancement Potion'!]
Amplified Ability Enhancement Potion (Magic) [S+]
A potion made by a master alchemist using incredible tools and rare materials.
[Amplification Effect 1]: Greatly increases magic stats (Magic Power, Magic Affinity) upon consumption.
[Amplification Effect 2]: 50% chance to acquire one skill from 'Basilisk'.
[Amplification Penalty 1]: Inflicts status ailment (petrification) upon consumption.
[Amplification Penalty 2]: Inflicts status ailment (paralysis poison) upon consumption.
[Amplification Penalty 3]: Inflicts status ailment (mana backlash) upon consumption.
[Amplification Penalty 4]: All penalties amplify if consumed with other potions.
"...Huh?"
Um... Thanks to the expensive materials getting amplified, I'd finally made an S+ grade potion for the first time.
It greatly boosted Magic Power and Magic Affinity, and even had a 50% shot at a wyrmling skill, but...
"...Even so, this looks like it'd kill me if I drank it...?"
The problem was the four insane penalties attached.
One even blocked antidotes or status cleansers, so no easy outs.
Even my Marrow Cleansing would probably shake its head at tanking this barehanded and say, "Nah, this is too much..."
Hmm... Let me think.
If I gave this to the Professor as a thank-you gift for all he'd done...
"...Wouldn't that be repaying kindness with enmity?"
I might think that if someone I helped gave me this.
"Gotta scrap this one."
No matter how I spun it, this synthesis was a failure.
It hurt like bloody tears to waste 950 million won,
but scrapping it and making something new was smarter. That's when—
[What do you mean scrap?]
"!!!"
[And what's that purple potion in your hand?]
A familiar alert popped up before my eyes, and the Professor slowly approached along the gravel path in the yard,
staring intently at the potion (or not) in my hand before asking about it.
[What's that?]
"...It's nothing."
[...You've done something again, haven't you? Spill it now! What did you make this time?!]
"It's really nothing? This is just... grape-flavored soda! Grape soda!"
[Don't lie! Then why are you sneaking guilty glances like a pup who chewed your shoes?!]
"No... It's true..."
...How does he always know?
Back in school, I was called Iron Mask Benefactor for my poker face,
yet the Professor sniffed out my lies every time like a ghost.
[Fine? Not a lie, right?]
"Of course not!"
[Then drink it.]
"...Pardon?"
[You said it's grape soda—drink it. Prove your innocence.]
"W-Well, I don't really like grape soda..."
[You little punk, hand it over right now! What the hell did you make this time?!]
"No way! I don't want to! Don't do it!"
"Heknyang?! Arinyang! Professor-nyang is tugging at Daddy's clothes for fun again-nyang!"
"Shameless! Daddy's embrace belongs to me and Lulu-unnie! Cheetah Professor-nyang, still just a wife candidate, has no business encroaching!"
"Let's go, Arinyang! Lulu will clear the path-nyang!"
"Got it, unnie!"
But bold as Lulu and Arin were, they couldn't beat the Professor in his mage domain.
I confessed about the potion (or not) to him.
Bracing for a scolding, I knelt... only for
[You made this potion... for me...?]
"It... didn't turn out quite as intended..."
[So I can drink it, right?]
"Of course you'd... Wait, you're gonna drink it? Why?!"
...Surprisingly, the Professor's reaction wasn't bad.
I did briefly worry if he was going through something tough enough for extreme choices lately,
but his follow-up words suggested otherwise.
[I can guess what you're thinking, so stop. It's nothing like that.]
"Oh, it's not?"
[Nope. Not at all.]
[To you, this might look like a deadly poison no antidote can cure, but to a mage like me, it's nothing of the sort.]
[Like the healing potion Hunter Kyung took last time, it's a one-of-a-kind treasure—with proper prep, I can handle it.]
"That good, huh?"
[It is. It really is.]
[High-floor climbers like me have no ways left to raise stats, so efficiency matters a ton—especially Magic Affinity, which can't be gained through normal means.]
[It's like innate talent; only ranking rewards offer it so far. But this potion boosts affinity just by drinking, plus 50% shot at a wyrmling skill?]
[Any mage would sell their soul for this priceless gem.]
"So... you like my gift...?"
[...As expected from Job Hunt Villain, so clueless...]
The Professor sighed at me,
then spread his arms wide and pulled me into a tight hug.
Squeeze-!
"???"
[Thank you so much, Job Hunt Villain... no, Rowan. For preparing such an amazing gift for me.]
[I'll thank you properly with money later. For now, let me give you a heartfelt hug.]
After that sincere hug of thanks,
[You've given me something way too generous, so I'll return the favor later for sure.]
he hurriedly left to prepare for drinking the potion.
Thud-!
"Daddy-nyang? Why'd you suddenly sit down-nyang?"
"Daddy? Are you hurt?"
"Kids... can you leave Daddy alone for a bit...?"
After that thankful hug, I sat there rooted to the spot for a while.
It wasn't because my legs gave out from my first hug from a woman.
This was... well...
In many ways, the Professor's hug was too stimulating for me...
Perk-!
...and my long-dormant little friend had woken up.
I couldn't let my daughters see that shameful sight, so I stayed seated, desperately suppressing it.
"East sea, Baekdu Mountain, till they dry and wear away..."
In the end, I had to sing the national anthem a hundred times before I could head inside.
For a good while after, my mind swirled with just one fact: 'The Professor's body smells incredibly good...?'